Lock and key therefor



June 17, 1930. G. A. LONG LOCK AND KEY THEREFOR Filed Nov. 18. 1927 n l 1 l l I 1 Patented June 17, 1930 UNITEDv STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE A. LONG, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE` LONG SECURITY LOCK COMPANY, 0F HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION 0F vCONNECTICUT LOCK AND KEY THEREFOR Application led November 18, 1927. Serial No. 234,258.

My invention relates to that class of devices that are employed for securing doors and similar closures, and an objecty of the invention, among others, is the provision of means for simplifying the act of operating a lock for said closures.

One form of device embodying my invention and in the construction and use of which the objects herein set out, as well as others, may be attained, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- k Figure 1 is a face vieT of my improved Figure 2 is an end view of the same.

Figure 3 is a face view showing one of the key members partially removed from the other member and completely removed from a lock.

Figure 4 is an isometric view showing the two key members substantiallyseparated.

Figure 5 is a face View of a lock used in connection with my improved key.y

Figure 6 is an edge View of the same.

Figure 7 is a View similar to Figure 5,- but withv the cover plate removed to show the interior mechanism, Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 7 bu showing the locking bolt in its unlocked position Fig. 9 is a view in section on a plane denoted'by the` dotted line 9-'9 of Fig. 7.

f Many locks in use at the present time embody mechanism so arranged that at least two keys must be used to operate the mechanism for the purpose of gaining access to the compartment closed by the door or other closure to `which the lock is aflixed. Such instances are common in the case of safedeposit boxes `or similar compartments in banks and `other placesv wherein a key possessed by the custodian or guard of the box is required to effect a partial rotation of the key center or barrel, and the key of the person renting the box is required to complete the operation to release the locking element. In this operation the key of the custodian must be first inserted and the operation partially performed thereby. The key of the custodian must then be removed before the key of the person renting the` box can be inserted, this inV anotheropening whereupon the operation ofunlocking the box is coml pleted. n Y By the use of my improved key illustrated and described herein this operation is greatly simplified in that only one operation isrequired to effect opening movement ofthe lock mechanism, this embodyingone inser-r t-ion only of the key. In attaining this resultI lso arrange the lock mechanism that a single opening only is required for the key, such key comprising a plurality of se-parable members, two of such members being employed in thatdevelopment of the invention illustrated and described herein, wherein the drawings the numeral 10 indicates a' lock case for containing the locking mechanism, such mechanism, generally speaking, comprising at least two sets of tumblers. The tumblers in the various sets may be of different types, and the sets of tumblers may be variously arranged, the mechanism illustrated herein very satisfactorily` answering the pur# pose and embodying a set 11 of pin tumblers placed in a well known manner in connection with a barrel or key center 12 rotatably mounted vin the case and a set of flat or leaf tumblers 13 pivotally mounted in the case; The pin tumblers are operated by the key to release or secure the barrel or key center, and the flat or leaf tumblers operate to release or secure the lockingbolt in a ymanner that will be readily understood.

My improved key is composed preferably of two members 15-16 divided lengthwise and having means for removable insertion of the members within the key center or Ybarrel that is rotated to operate the locking bolt 14. In the structurelherein shown the key member 15 is bitted or notchedto receive the pin tumblers and the member 16 is yprovided with angularly shaped blts and notches properly arranged to operatey the leaf or flat tumblers. When the key has been operated to completely rotate thebarrel the member 15 may be removed, the member 16 being retained in the barrel and, in fact, `being secured therein against removal when the locking bolt' 14 is thrown back.

Each of the members 15 and 16 has a rein Fig. 5, and a key releasing notch 21 is also formed in said lip.

In order that the two members ofthe keyA mayV be securely, temporarily held togetherV one `of'said members, asthe member 16, has

l a sloping shoulder that the end ot the section 15 is tted to.y A thumb piece 2.3 ot the section 15 has an elongated lug or rib 24 that is received in aslot 25 in a thumb piece 26 of the key member 16. A bridge 27 closes the end of the slot 25and is arched, as Yshown in Fig. 4, thereby forming a `groove 28 to permit passage of the lug 24 underneath said bridge.

In the operation ofthe key inV connection with the lock mechanism, for instance as'that of a safe deposit boX, the custodian or guard takes the separable key member 16 from the. possessor of the boX- and attaches it to the separable key member V15 in the custody of vsaid guard, and as shown in Fig. 1. VThe completed key is then inserted in the look having the parts in the position shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. The key member 15 will place the pin tumblers 11 with their ends all flush with the mouths of their respective openings, thus enabling the barrel or key center 12 to be rotated. The key is now turned in a clockwise direction .to the position shown in Fig. 8, wherein the. shoulder on one side vof the notch 17 will be located opposite the releasing notch 21, and the key member 15 mayV be removed by vsliding it relatively with respect to the key member 16, andas. illustrated in Fig. 4. Thekey member 16 of theboX owner, however, cannot be removed when in this position for the reason that the inner shoulder of its notch 17 is lagainst the inner surtacevof the lip 18.

The operation Vabove described,r however, has unlocked the door, the mechanism parts being in the position shown in-Fig. 8, and said door may be opened. vWhen the door is again closed all that is required to'lock it is to turn the key member 16 kthat has been retained in the lock in acontra-clockwise direction, or to the left, when the locking members will be returned to the posi- Vtion shown in Fig. 7 and the box door will be locked. The key member 16 may nowy be readily removed from the lock. y

It will thus beseenthat in the place of two keys I have produced a single key composed of two members, and the complete key is operated inv the same manner as a single key, but at the end of the unlocking operation one member of the key may be removed, leaving the other key Amember to be made use ot Yin the locking operation.

t will be noted that the blades of the two key members are located in the same plane by offsetting oneV or both of said bladestrom the plane ot' its thumb piece. In the structure herein shown the blade ot the key member 16 is entirely oflset from the plane of its thumb piece into the plane .of the blade oi'' the key member 15.

It may here bebrieily stated that the lock herein shown is oftlia type wherein the tumblers 13 have notches adapted to regisf ter with detente 29, to permit the locking bolt to be drawn back, the tumblers ot that part` of the set 11 not located in the barrel 12 being located in a tumbler block 30. The barrel 12 hasan arm 31 to'enter a notch in the side of the locking bolt for the purpose of moving lsaid bolt `when permitted by the tumblers 13 which are properly located tor that purpose by the bits in the key member 16. Y

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes I have described thev princi ples of operation of my invention, together with the devicewhich I now consider to represent the best embodimentthereof; butV I desire lto have it understood that the device shown isonly'illustrative, and that the invention may be carried out by` other means and applied to uses other than those above set out. f

I claim- 1. A key comprising a plurality ot members separable lengthwise thereof adapted for independent operation of different sets of lock tumblers, means for uniting said members for joint operation of a lock mechanism, and means to permit separation,

of said members and removal of one from within the lock and thereafter :the locking operation of the lock by the other member. c 2. A key comprising a plurality of members separable lengthwise thereof,'means for uniting said members in the same plane for joint operation of a lock mechanism, means to permit separation ofsaid members when in the lock mechanism by sliding one lengthwise in the plane occupied by it when united to the other member, and means for etfecting locking operation of the lock after removal of one of said members. v

3. Agkey comprising twomembers separable lengthwise thereot and iitting each other edge vto edge, one of said members having an opening, a projection on the other of said members adapted vto fit said opening to temporarily unite said members and align .them transversely and means for laligning said membersrin another direction.

Y4.- A key comprising two members sepa.- rable lengthwise thereof and fitting each other edge to edge, each of said members having a thumb piece and one ofsaid thumb pieces having a slot, a rib on the other thumb piece shaped to t said slot to temand Vses

porarily unite said key members and align them in a transverse direction and means for aligning said members in another direction.

5. A key comprising two members separable lengthwise thereof and fitting each other edge to edge, eaoh of said members having a thumb piece and one of said thumb pieces having a slot and a releasing groove opening out of said slot, and a rib on the other thumb piece shaped to fit said slot to temporarily unite said key members for joint operation of a lock mechanism, said rib being formed to pass through said groove for separation of said key members.

6. A key comprising two members separable one from the other, means on one of said members for operating one set of tumblers, means to then permit separation and removal of one of said members from the other while in a look mechanism, and means on the other member for operating another set of tumblers.

GEORGE A. LONG. 

